Masaya is governed by federal Nicaragua law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Unknown
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Masaya is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Masaya is legal.
Current status
Since Mar 2008
Legal
Nicaragua legalized homosexuality in 2008 after a new penal code was adopted. Under the new penal code, consensual gay sex was not included as a criminal offense.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) under federal Nicaragua law
In 1992, Nicaragua passed legislation that criminalized “anyone who induces, promotes, propagandises or practices sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy,” with a punishment of one to three years of imprisonment.
Same-sex marriage in Masaya is banned.
Current status
Banned
Article 72 of the constitution states that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Masaya is no censorship.
Current status
Since Mar 2008
No censorship
Since the repeal of the previous law and that which criminalises same sex sexual activity in Nicaragua, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. However, since the 2018 crackdown on student protests, LGBTIQ+ organisations have faced harassment and de facto restrictions from the government.
Right to change legal gender in Masaya is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws regarding change of legal gender.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Masaya is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Non-binary identities are not legally recognized in Nicaragua.
LGBT housing discrimination in Masaya is no protections.
Current status
No protections
According to ILGA laws in force in Nicaragua do not offer protection against LGBT discrimination in housing.
Same-sex adoption in Masaya is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Article 239(a) of the Family Code (2014) establishes that adoption may be requested by a couple consisting of a man and a woman who live together in a marital union or in a stable de facto union.
Intersex infant surgery in Masaya is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Masaya is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
The Nicaraguan Army does not allow LGBT people to serve openly.
Blood donations by MSMs in Masaya is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Masaya is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Reportedly, the practice is quite widespread and currently, no ban exists.